Radio Broadcast - 1927, May - 61 Pages, 4.9 MB ... - VacuumTubeEra

:RADIO BROADCASTVOLUME XI NUMBER 1MAY, 1927With MacMillan to the ArcticTales from the Pen of the Sachem's Radio OperatorNot so Stupid, These EskimoFlappers Some Notes on the Aurora, Mirages, and Radio Abe Puts One Over.'BAKING up the threadsof our storyfrom where we dropped them lastmonth, we on the Sacbcm and ourfriends on the Bowdoin find ourselvesat Godhaven, Disko Island, thenorthernmost port of call of the expedition.Let us deviate a little, though, to tellof the inhabitants of these arctic regions, foran account of an expedition into the landof the Eskimos is not complete withoutsome mention of these most interestingpeople. Although the full-blooded Eskimosare few and far between, their habits andmethods of living are preserved by thosewho possess considerable Danish blood.They are all wards of the Danish Governmentand are well cared for, and everyeffort is made to preserve their native customsand practices.The Eskimo flappers are not sostupid; in fact, they have many ofthe same instincts that are commonamong the American beauties. In thematter of short skirts, they are yearsahead of the best of our stenographers.The complete absence of skirtsis due in a large measure to the Danishrulings that prevent them fromchanging from their native customof sealskin pants and boots. Theytake great pride in making theirboots the most attractive in thesettlement. Generally they are dyedwith a brilliant white or bright red.The girls all make large bead collarsfor themselves of their own design,with beads imported from Denmark.Ordinarily it is very difficult to obtainthese collars but this year afew were purchased for thirty kronerMany of the girls,(Danish money).ifthey have considerable Danishblood in them, are quite pretty;otherwise they look too much likeEskimos.By AUSTIN G.COOLEYA few of the Eskimos live in small framehouses or shacks while the others have theirhomes built of sod. These houses, or igloos,are built very scientifically with a selectedsod that is a good heat insulator. The wallsare built very thick and the doors all havetunnel approaches built of sod, entering atan angle to the door. Each igloo has a bedconsisting of a raised platform large enoughto accommodate the entire family. TheGreenland Eskimos, and the igloos thatwe saw, were very clean.Many of the expedition found itgreatsport trading with the Eskimos for souvenirs,such as harpoons, bird spears, modelkyaks, etc. In Sukkertoppen, Mrs. Metcalfwanted to get a model of a woman's skinboat. She asked some of the Eskimos intheir language if they had any "coumiaks."CAPTAIN "MAC" AND ABEThe latter was the Eskimo interpreter of the Expedition. Hereturned with the others to America when the Sachem andBowdoin came back and, among many other things, saw atrain for the first time in his lifeConsiderable laughter among the Eskimosimmediately resulted. Abe Bromfield, CommanderMacMillan's interpreter, had tocome to her assistance. It was an "umiak"she wanted. "Coumiak" is the Eskimoword for "lice"!For exchange, the Eskimos generallywanted tobacco and calico, although someasked for kroner which could be used atthe stores run in the large settlementsby the Danish government. The Danishmoney used in Greenland bears pictures ofanimals, such as polar bears, whales, seals,and ducks, so that the value may be recognizedby the Eskimos.During certain seasons, the Eskimoswork in fisheries operated by the Government,and at other times they are busysealing and hunting. The womens' workincludes the chewing of seal skinsso as to soften them, and the makingof boots and clothing.Anyone espied walking ashore witha camera was sure to have a largefollowing, for the Eskimo girls are asanxious to have their pictures takenas are some American girls to appearin the movies. When preparing for ashore trip with the cameras, I alwaysconsidered a supply of gum and cigarettesas important as the films.After taking pictures, these wouldbe passed around to the eager natives,who were especially anxiousfor cigarettes; even the babies intheirmother's arms made manifesta desire to smoke. They seemed toenjoy smoking as much as theirgrandmothers.The Eskimo's Santa Claus is moreof a fact than a myth. His phaseangle displacement is 80 1 degreesfrom ours! He comes from thesouth in the summer time in a whiteschooner, and brings toys and candyfor the bad little boys and girls as